Winker-fork



(No Model.)

E. A. STEPHENS.

WINKER FORK.

No. 445,736] Patented Feb.3,1891.

M lym/glffmys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD A. STEPHENS, OF FREMONT, INDIANA.

WlNKEFl-FORK.l

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 445,736, datedFebruary 3, 1891.

' Application led September 27, 1890. Serial No. 366,352. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fremont, in the county of Steuben and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Winker-Fork, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to improvements in winkers or blinds forbridles; and the objects in view are toprovide means for positivelymaintaining the blind in proper adjusted position from the eye of thehorse, to adapt the blind for adjustment so as to suit differentanimals, and to obviate attaching the .brace of the winker to thecrownstrap.

lVith the above objects in view the invention consists in securing` saidbrace to the brow-band of the bridle, in providing a suitable stiffeningfor the brace, and means for adjustably and otherwise connecting thefront end of the braces to the brow-band.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a portion of abridle the winker of which is connected to the brow-band in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a portion ofthe band and one of the winker-braces. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one ofthe adjusting-hooks. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the stiffening-wires.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I employ the usual brow-band l, thecheek-straps 2, throatlash 3, and the winkers or blinds 4, secured attheir rear edges in position in the usual manner.

5 designates a metal clip of U shape, the terminals 6 of which arepassed through the brow-band and clinched upon the under side of thesame, and from said clip there extends laterally a hook 7. A series ofthese coinbined clips and hooks may be employed, or, if desired, butone.

S designates a leather brace, one end of which is secured in anysuitable manner to the free end of the Winkel. The brace in the presentinstance consists of an inner core 9 of malleable wire and an outercovering l0 of leather, said malleable wire being extended at its frontend and bent to form a loop 1l, designed to engage any one of the seriesof hooks 7, so that the blind may be adjusted at suitable distances fromthe eye of the horse. The covering of leather is formed by cementing orotherwise securing the overlapping edges together, and said edges are atthe ends of the coveringleft unconnected, so as to form iiattenedcoverings l2 for the loops at one end, and at the other end adapt thebrace to be sewed or otherwise secured to the blind.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination,withthe brow-band of 3. The combination, with the brow-band of a bridle, ahook projecting therefrom, and a blind or winker, of a winker-braceconsisting of a central malleable-wire core terminating at its front endin a loop for engaging the hook, and an outer 'covering of leather,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. STEPHENS.

Witnesses:

W. H. SNYDEE, J. BARNHART.

